In Belgium, plug-in hybrids sales collapsed following the end of tax breaks on 1 July. The Corolla Cross uses the well-proven self-charging system so dear to Toyota. Sporting a 2.0 petrol engine rated at 197 bhp, we were quite eager to discover this compact SUV. However, on-paper figures are not everything…
The Corolla Cross is rather anonymous looking and not really a novelty as it was launched back at the end of 2020. However, it took a while for it to reach Europe : it arrived here earlier this year, to compete against the Ford Kuga, Peugeot 3008, Seat Ateca… in a highly crowded market. It’s hard for it to stand out from the crowd with its overly conservative outlook. However, from some angles, the front end looks quite ferocious with its imposing bumper and enormous grille. The lower part of the car is covered by black plastic elements meant to turn it as some serious adventurer, while the back end of it is more anonymous.
I like it
Digitization and screens are all the rage at the moment, these taking ever more space inside modern cars. However, Toyota is moving at its own pace, and that’s no bad thing. In other words, there are still good old buttons for the air conditioning or the volume of the multi-media system. There are two screens on the dashboard, the 12″3 one in front of the driver displaying the most useful information without offering many screen choices, something Toyota’s returning customers won’t lament. The central 10″5 touchscreen is quite sober but everything is there, and the shortcuts located on the left of the screen are very useful. Fit and finish is quite good without being luxurious and the three-spoke steering wheel is pleasant to grip. The driving position is fairly convincing, although the backrests could be more supportive. Passenger space is adequate, even if rear legroom could be more generous.
Quite clever
What struck us most about this Toyota Corolla Cross ? All the driving aids available, a big step forward. Known as the « Toyota Safety Sense », the driving aids help to free your mind and we took full advantage of them towndriving in tight places. It’s a great way to impress your passengers : don’t tell them about the high-performance cameras and radars offering a 360° vision.
I don’t like it
The claimed 197 bhp had us mouth watering, but the ponies don’t really imbue this mid-size SUV with any spirited character. Obviously, it is first and foremost intended for family use and it would have been incongruous to turn it into a dragster ! Frankly, it feels more like driving a 130 bhp car. It has to be said that the transmission doesn’t urge you to drive it as a race car, showing once again its ‘coffee grinder’ side that keeps the engine at high revs when you accelerate hard. In short, it’s best to use the Corolla Cross as a family man, taking full advantage of its stability and comfort. The completely outdated seat heater and steering wheel buttons are also a minor drawback.
Why I buy it
We already mentioned it when we tested the smaller Yaris Cross but we can say it all over again here: Toyota’s hybrid system is truly impressive. Its 25 years experience really come into their own when the car switches from thermal to electric power very frequently, as indicated by the EV light on the dashboard. This means smooth, environmentally-friendly urban driving with just 5.6 liters/100 km average fuel consumption, even if the driver pushes the right pedal quite often. The ergonomics are excellent, the comfort fairly satisfactory and, above all, the driving aids really very effective.
Why I don’t buy it
We tested a 2.0 2WD in Premium top trim level. Equipment is quite generous and includes an electric tailgate, heated steering wheel and seats. The smartphone charger has sometimes a mind of its own, though. Toyota asks €45,800 for it. The four-wheel-drive version costs €1,870 more. There’s also a more modest 1800cc FWD version priced €43,400, in the same trim level. That’s quite a lot of money for private customers… All the more so as the claimed power figure doesn’t seem to materialize on the road and the rear passenger space could be more generous. The 509 liters boot volume is good compared to its competitors but its shape could have been better and made more useful with a flat floor. (Translation: Dimitri Urbain)
